| The Bear's Sad bargain |
| Written by Administrator | ||||
Page 3 of 6 -I-m afraid not- returned the woodman, shaking his head; -you see khichrī is an expensive dish to make,–there is rice in it, and plenty of butter; and pulse, and–- -Would–would eight hundredweight do?- -Say half a ton, and it-s a bargain!- quoth the woodman. -Half a ton is a large quantity!- sighed the bear. -There is saffron in the khichrī,- remarked the woodman casually. The bear licked his lips, and .his little eyes twinkled with greed and delight. -Well, it-s a bargain! Go home sharp and tell your wife to keep the khichrī hot; I-ll be with you in a trice.- Away went the woodman in great glee to tell his wife how the bear had agreed to bring half a ton of wood in return for a share of the khichrī. Now the wife could not help allowing that her husband had made a good bargain, but being by nature a grumbler, she was determined not to be pleased, so she began to scold the old man for not having settled exactly the share the bear was to have; -For,- said she, -he will gobble up the potful before we have finished our first helping.- |
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